Federer reaches semi in epic US Open comeback

Roger Federer to play Marin Cilic after saving two match points and coming back from two sets down against Gael Monfils.

Fri Sep 05 2014 11:53:47 GMT+0000

Misfiring most of the night, Federer slowly began to find his mark in the match [AP]

Roger Federer has pulled off a remarkable comeback after fighting off two match points, and from two sets down, to beat Frenchman Gael Monfils and reach the semi-finals of the US Open, keeping his bid for an 18th Grand Slam on track.

The stirring 4-6 3-6 6-4 7-5 6-2 win marks the ninth time in his career Federer has rallied after being two sets behind to snatch victory, setting up a final-four meeting with 14th seed Marin Cilic.

Meanwhile, sixth seeded Tomas Berdych had no chance of conjuring a similar escape and lost 6-2 6-4 7-6 (4) to big-serving Croat Cilic, who is making his return to Flushing Meadows after missing last year's tournament due to a doping suspension.

Labelled one of the game's great natural talents, Monfils can be wildly entertaining or maddening, depending on his mood, and the near capacity crowd at the Arthur Ashe Stadium saw both sides of the 28-year-old during a riveting three hour, 20 minute encounter.

After Federer won the third set, Monfils carved out two match points in the fourth, but with Federer on the ropes the 20th seeded Frenchman could not deliver the knockout punch.

"When I was down two match points, I wasn't feeling so great ... I thought 'this is it, this is the last point, man," saidFederer. "'Just go down fighting, don't miss an easy shot and let him have it'."

Misfiring most of the night, Federer slowly began to find his mark and seized his chance when it arrived, holding servefor 5-5 to close out the fourth set and then breaking Monfils in the first game of the fifth.

"It was one of those moments where you got the back against the wall and hope to get a bit lucky and you hope to play exactly the right shots that you need or that he completely just messes it up," said the 33-year-old Swiss.

"Either way works as long as you get out of it...It's just unbelievable to win matches like this at slams.

"I'm not sure I have ever saved match point before in a slam. If that hasn't happened, I'm unbelievably happy that it was today."